Students to raise funds for travel program

March 18, 2013

MARTINSBURG - While students' summer days can be used to sleep late and enjoy a break from school, two Berkeley County students will be using the summer as an opportunity to increase their global awareness.

Nathan Pipes, a junior at Hedgesville High School, and Patrick Miller, a seventh-grader at North Middle School, are enrolled in People to People, an international program designed to promote educational travel for grades five through college.

The program is designed to increase students' global awareness through first-hand experience of different cultures by participating in local customs, staying with host families and doing service projects.

Each youth will participate in a different trip, with each trip focusing on specific academic focus areas. Pipes will join high school students on the two-week Costa Rica Expedition. Miller will be traveling with fellow seventh- and eighth-graders on the Mediterranean Heritage trip.

"I'm really looking forward to the experience. Just being in a different place, doing different things. It's supposed to make you break out of your America snow globe and help you see what other cultures are like in different places," Pipes said.

Pipes' trip focuses on adventure and service in motion. Pipes said he is most looking forward to participating in the service projects, such as doing work at an orphanage, and the adventure aspect, like flying on a zip-line.

This will be Pipes' second experience with People to People. He first attended a Washington, D.C., leadership conference in eighth grade.

For 19 days, Miller will explore Italy, Spain and France, with the program focus of his trip as arts and the classics.

"I'm excited to walk in the footsteps of the ancient gladiators in Rome and repel 70 feet off of a tower in Perugia. In Madrid we're going to be learning about bull fighting," Miller said.

This trip will be Miller's first time traveling outside of the United States. Additional activities he will experience include staying with a host family in Spain, visiting the Vatican and participating in community service activities such as cleaning a community park and working with mentally and physically challenged children.

Both students will be hosting fundraisers to help finance their trips. Pipes' trip costs approximately $4,500, and Miller's trip costs $7,000. Each youth will be applying for scholarship opportunities offered by People to People.

Sunday, Sweet Frog in Martinsburg will be hosting a fundraiser for Pipes throughout the day, with a donation made every time Pipes' name or People to People is mentioned.

Miller has planned multiple fundraisers to help reduce the cost of his trip. Friday from 5-8 p.m., Bethel Assembly of God in Martinsburg will host a spaghetti dinner and raffle; March 30, Hoss's in Martinsburg will donate to Miller when diners mention the trip; April 13, Bethel Assembly of God is hosting a benefit concert featuring City Skies; and 5-8 p.m. April 27, Chick-fil-A is hosting a spirit night.